Star of David Interlocking Triangles

I was asked for instructions for a Star of David quilt block, but I think that this is better described as interlocking triangles. I haven’t got the triangle proportions right for a Star of David, but I wanted to keep it simple with half square triangles rather than sixty degree triangles. As I’ve made it here with a border, the block measures 20″ square finished size.

Cutting requirements for the interlocked triangle quilt block

2.1/2″ squares: twelve white, eight brown, eight yellow

2.1/2″ by 6.1/2″ rectangles: four white

2.7/8″ squares: five each of yellow and white, five each of brown and white, two each of brown and yellow

For the border: 2.1/2″ brown rectangles: four at 20.1/2″ long

For the quarter square triangles: 2.7/8″ squares: two yellow and two brown. 3.1/4″ squares: four white, two brown, two yellow

Make half square triangles

Make half square triangles

Use the first list of 2.7/8″ squares to make half square triangles. Place two squares with right sides together and mark a line along the diagonal. Sew a seam 1/4″ either side of the marked line and cut along the line to produce two half square triangle units. Press the seam allowances towards the darker fabric and trim the corners of the squares where the tips of the triangles stick out.

Make quarter square triangles

Make quarter square triangles

For these you need to begin with the 3.1/4″ squares. Place each brown or yellow square against a white square with right sides together. Mark the diagonal and make half square triangles as above. Now take each brown/white half square triangle and place it right sides together with a yellow 2.7/8″ square. Take each yellow/white half square triangle and place it right sides together with a brown 2.7/8″ square.

Mark and sew the diagonal

Quarter square triangles

Mark the diagonal that crosses the seam of the half square triangle (rather than the diagonal that runs along the seam). Sew a seam 1/4″ either side of the line as you did above for the half square triangles. When you cut along the lines you will get quarter square triangles as shown on the right. Note that they are not the same as each other and you will need to use one and discard one from each pair of quarter square triangles.

Layout for the Star of David quilt block

Assembling the Star of David quilt block

Place the squares in eight rows of ten squares each. The 6.1/2″ white rectangles are all placed in the top two and bottom two rows. The quarter square triangles are placed in rows four and five, the second square in from the edge on both sides.

Note that the first square in row six shows as a yellow/white half square triangle when in fact it should be a plain yellow square. Luckily I noticed this before I sewed the squares together across that row!

First four rows

Last four rows

You can get a closer look at the layout if I show you the rows in fours. The first four rows are on the left and the last four rows are on the right. You can see the quarter square triangles at the bottom of the left hand photo and the top of the right hand photo.

Sew the squares together across each row and then sew the rows to each other to complete the Star of David Interlocking Triangles quilt block – well, my version of it!